Angel Tree Ceremony

Local
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12/2/2013 5:47 PM
by Rachael Cardin

BECKLEY - An annual event to memorialize a loved one during the holidays was held on Monday at the Crossroads Mall in Beckley.

The Angel Tree Ceremony is put on every year by the Beckley Hospice House. Monday, hundreds of people gathered around the two trees to pay tribute to the memories of those they have lost. As names of deceased loved ones were read aloud, the family members or friends came forward to hang an ornament on one of the trees.

Josh Jones, Public Relations Director of the Hospice House, said not only does the event help support the community projects they put on, but it offers a way for people to cope with loss during the holiday. "Everybody comes here together today. They come to the ceremony to share time together. Everybody knows that they can share loss... usually holidays are a good time to be around family and loved ones and this is an opportunity for people to come together and share in the memory of their loved one. I think that's a special moment for a lot of people," said Jones.

The Angel Tree will be displayed at Crossroads Mall throughout the month of December and anyone is welcome to make a donation and hang an ornament.